Is there a cure for costochondritis, a painful inflamation of the rib cartlidge?

Question

Currently using Celebrex with little relief and I have little hope this iwll be anything but symptomatic benefit.

Answer 1

I was diagnosed with this after an especially painful bout of it. The pain eventually stopped, after a couple of weeks, and I was fine. I had one minor recurrence afterward but since then I haven't been troubled with it.

More good info found here: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costochondritis/article_em.htm

Answer 2

I have had costochondritis for almost 11 years now. Although I don't believe there is a cure- I have learned some things over 11 years. Hopefully they will help you. First of all make sure you sleep enough. If you are in too much pain to sleep, either pain relievers or sleep aids may help you to get you over the hump. Second of all, anti-inflammatories did nothing for me ever.
Third- A series of stretching exercises that I have done religiously for 10 years almost every day in the shower helps the most. The stretching hurts when the inflammation is bad but after the pain subsides, I am more comfortable for the rest of the day. I started with a whole host of stretching exercises but was able to cut it down over the years. 4th- the more exercise I get the better I feel.
5th- sitting down for long time periods seems to irritate it the most
6th- sleep with pillows between your knees and under your rib cage to ease comfort.
Like I said I hope this helps. I feel for you- it can be miserable but can also be managed. I don't get nearly as scared as I once did when it flares up. I just know what I have to do.

Answer 3

Yes there is a cure. At least it cured mine...

I had "chest pains" for months and months. After spending a bunch of money at the cardiologist's office, he gave up and said "skeletal-muscular pain."

I happened to meet a sports medicine doc who knew immediately what was going on. His therapist did a bunch of exercises and manipulations and pulling and tugging and such. I hurt for 3 days, like I'd been hit by a truck. After about 3 or 4 of these appointments, the chest pains stopped.

What happens is that your ribs get outta place, and that causes inflammation and pain. In return, your chest muscles then are permanently tense, so they are held into place -- my therapist pointed out that my left pect muscle was 50% larger than the right because of my situation!

So, what can you lose? Get a referral to a high-quality sports medicine doctor, and see if your ribs are outta place. If they are outta place, and they get put back in place, then your sternum pains have a fighting chance of going away.

BTW, for pain relief, forget the meds -- vicodine didn't even touch my pain. I found out that a heating pad tucked under my shirt worked better than anything. I literally would go to bed with the heating pad under my shirt, and by morning I felt good again.

Answer 4

ok so what? yeah he doesnt treatment amputees! yea he made an entire woman out of one rib? he can, chooses no longer too, what if the amputee jumped onto some prepare tracks whilst attempting to be cool for his/her acquaintances? what if their arm grew to grow to be contaminated whilst using drugs or from STDS they have been given from raping? what in the event that they only have an amputated arm, what if GOd can use that incapacity to create something a techniques richer than in the event that they have been finished, what if God used that individual to instruct which you would be able to nevertheless stay existence with out desiring each thing for loose and positively. according to probability you ought to not attempt to foretell Gods will or attempt and say he's incorrect. You DONT understand his plans and in no way will untill they are fufiled and you dont understand everyones tale.

Answer 5

I had a few bouts, after taking many medicines, I went to a chiropractic office. It helped me.